Discriminating α-synuclein strains in Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that are associated with the misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein, including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy1. Clinically, it is challenging to differentiate Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy, especially at the early stages of disease2. Aggregates of α-synuclein in distinct synucleinopathies have been proposed to represent different conformational strains of α-synuclein that can self-propagate and spread from cell to cell3-6. Protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) is a technique that has previously been used to detect α-synuclein aggregates in samples of cerebrospinal fluid with high sensitivity and specificity7,8. Here we show that the α-synuclein-PMCA assay can discriminate between samples of cerebrospinal fluid from patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and samples from patients with multiple system atrophy, with an overall sensitivity of 95.4%. We used a combination of biochemical, biophysical and biological methods to analyse the product of α-synuclein-PMCA, and found that the characteristics of the α-synuclein aggregates in the cerebrospinal fluid could be used to readily distinguish between Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. We also found that the properties of aggregates that were amplified from the cerebrospinal fluid were similar to those of aggregates that were amplified from the brain. These findings suggest that α-synuclein aggregates that are associated with Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy correspond to different conformational strains of α-synuclein, which can be amplified and detected by α-synuclein-PMCA. Our results may help to improve our understanding of the mechanism of α-synuclein misfolding and the structures of the aggregates that are implicated in different synucleinopathies, and may also enable the development of a biochemical assay to discriminate between Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy.

Phenoconversion in pure autonomic failure: a multicentre prospective longitudinal cohort study.

We aimed to describe the clinical features of patients with pure autonomic failure (PAF) preceding phenoconversion that could be useful as predictive markers for advancing α-synuclein-associated neurodegeneration of the brain. Patients diagnosed with PAF were evaluated at eight centres (seven US-based and one European) and enrolled in a longitudinal observational cohort study (NCT01799915). Subjects underwent detailed assessments of motor, sleep, olfactory, cognitive and autonomic function and were followed prospectively to determine whether they developed parkinsonism or dementia for up to 10 years. We identified incident cases of Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) or multiple system atrophy (MSA) and computed hazard ratios for phenoconversion as functions of clinical features. A total of 209 participants with PAF with a median disease duration of 6 years (IQR: 3-10) were enrolled. Of those, 149 provided follow-up information at an office or telemedicine visit. After a mean follow-up duration of 3 years, 48 (33%) participants phenoconverted (42% to PD, 35% to DLB and 23% to MSA). Faster phenoconversion from study enrolment to any diagnosis was associated with urinary and sexual dysfunction [hazard ratio (HR) 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-22 and HR: 3.6, 95% CI: 1.1-12] followed by subtle motor signs (HR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.2-6), trouble swallowing (HR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.4-4.5) and changes in speech (HR:2.4, 95% CI:1.1-4.8) at enrolment. Subjects reporting deterioration of handwriting were more likely to phenoconvert to PD (HR: 2.6, 95% CI: 1.1-5.9) and those reporting difficulty handling utensils were more likely to phenoconvert to DLB (HR: 6.8, 95% CI: 1.2-38). Patients with a younger age of PAF onset (HR: 11, 95% CI: 2.6-46), preserved olfaction (HR: 8.7, 95% CI: 1.7-45), anhidrosis (HR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1-3.1, P = 0.042) and severe urinary problems (HR 1.6, 95% CI: 1-2.5, P = 0.033) were more likely to phenoconvert to MSA. The best autonomic predictor of PD was a blunted heart rate increase during the tilt-table test (HR: 6.1, 95% CI: 1.4-26). Patients with PAF have an estimated 12% (95% CI: 9-15%) per year annual risk following study entry of phenoconverting to a manifest CNS synucleinopathy.

Autonomic impairment in primary lateral sclerosis.

PURPOSE: Prior studies reported evidence of autonomic involvement in motor neuron disease and suggested more severe dysfunction in upper motor neuron predominant syndromes. Hence, we sought to characterize autonomic impairment in primary lateral sclerosis. METHODS: Neurological evaluations, thermoregulatory sweat tests, and autonomic reflex screens were analyzed retrospectively in 34 primary lateral sclerosis patients (28 definite and 6 probable). Patients with other potential causes of autonomic failure and patients with autonomic testing results compromised by artifact were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 17 patients reported autonomic symptoms. Orthostatic lightheadedness was most frequent (8 patients), followed by bladder (7), bowel (5), and erectile dysfunction (3). The autonomic reflex screens of 33 patients were reviewed; 20 patients had abnormal studies. The thermoregulatory sweat tests of 19 patients were reviewed; 11 patients had abnormal studies. Composite Autonomic Severity Score was calculated for 33 patients and found abnormal in 20/33 patients (60.6%): 15/20 patients (75%) had mild impairment, and 5/20 patients (25%) had moderate impairment. The frequencies of testing abnormalities were: sudomotor 18/20 (90%), cardiovagal 9/20 (45%), and adrenergic 6/20 (30%). Sweat loss pattern analysis showed global, regional, and mixed patterns to be more common than length-dependent and distal patterns. CONCLUSION: We found evidence of frequent autonomic dysfunction in primary lateral sclerosis, which is generally of modest severity akin to prior reports for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, but more commonly in a pattern consistent with preganglionic/ganglionic localization. This suggests that primary lateral sclerosis, as with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a multisystem disease that affects the autonomic nervous system.

Neurofilament light chain in spinal fluid and plasma in multiple system atrophy: a prospective, longitudinal biomarker study.

PURPOSE: There is a critical need for reliable diagnostic biomarkers as well as surrogate markers of disease progression in multiple system atrophy (MSA). Neurofilament light chain (NfL) has been reported to potentially meet those needs. We therefore sought to explore the value of NfL in plasma (NfL-p) in contrast to cerebrospinal fluid (NfL-c) as a diagnostic marker of MSA, and to assess NfL-p and NfL-c as markers of clinical disease progression. METHODS: Well-characterized patients with early MSA (n = 32), Parkinson's disease (PD; n = 21), and matched controls (CON; n = 15) were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study of synucleinopathies with serial annual evaluations. NfL was measured using a high-sensitivity immunoassay, and findings were assessed by disease category and relationship with clinical measures of disease progression. RESULTS: Measurements of NfL-c were highly reproducible across immunoassay platforms (Pearson, r = 0.99), while correlation between NfL-c and -p was only moderate (r = 0.66). NfL was significantly higher in MSA compared with CON and PD; the separation was essentially perfect for NfL-c, but there was overlap, particularly with PD, for NfL-p. While clinical measures of disease severity progressively increased over time, NfL-c and -p remained at stable elevated levels within subjects across serial measurements. Neither change in NfL nor baseline NfL were significantly associated with changes in clinical markers of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm NfL-c as a faithful diagnostic marker of MSA, while NfL-p showed less robust diagnostic value. The significant NfL elevation in MSA was found to be remarkably stable over time and was not predictive of clinical disease progression.

Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers and Neurofilament Light Chain Predict Phenoconversion of Pure Autonomic Failure.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) oligomers and neurofilament light chain (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with pure autonomic failure (PAF) as markers of future phenoconversion to multiple system atrophy (MSA). METHODS: Well-characterized patients with PAF (n = 32) were enrolled between June 2016 and February 2019 at Mayo Clinic Rochester and followed prospectively with annual visits to determine future phenoconversion to MSA, Parkinson's disease (PD), or dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). ELISA was utilized to measure NfL and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) to detect αSyn oligomers in CSF collected at baseline. RESULTS: Patients were followed for a median of 3.9 years. Five patients converted to MSA, 2 to PD, and 2 to DLB. NfL at baseline was elevated only in patients who later developed MSA, perfectly separating those from future PD and DLB converters as well as non-converters. ASyn-PMCA was positive in all but two cases (94%). The PMCA reaction was markedly different in five samples with maximum fluorescence and reaction kinetics previously described in MSA patients; all of these patients later developed MSA. INTERPRETATION: αSyn-PMCA is almost invariably positive in the CSF of patients with PAF establishing this condition as α-synucleinopathy. Both NfL and the magnitude and reaction kinetics of αSyn PMCA faithfully predict which PAF patients will eventually phenoconvert to MSA. This finding has important implications not only for prognostication, but also for future trials of disease modifying therapies, allowing for differentiation of MSA from Lewy body synucleinopathies before motor symptoms develop. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:1212-1220.

The Movement Disorder Society Criteria for the Diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy.

BACKGROUND: The second consensus criteria for the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA) are widely recognized as the reference standard for clinical research, but lack sensitivity to diagnose the disease at early stages. OBJECTIVE: To develop novel Movement Disorder Society (MDS) criteria for MSA diagnosis using an evidence-based and consensus-based methodology. METHODS: We identified shortcomings of the second consensus criteria for MSA diagnosis and conducted a systematic literature review to answer predefined questions on clinical presentation and diagnostic tools relevant for MSA diagnosis. The criteria were developed and later optimized using two Delphi rounds within the MSA Criteria Revision Task Force, a survey for MDS membership, and a virtual Consensus Conference. RESULTS: The criteria for neuropathologically established MSA remain unchanged. For a clinical MSA diagnosis a new category of clinically established MSA is introduced, aiming for maximum specificity with acceptable sensitivity. A category of clinically probable MSA is defined to enhance sensitivity while maintaining specificity. A research category of possible prodromal MSA is designed to capture patients in the earliest stages when symptoms and signs are present, but do not meet the threshold for clinically established or clinically probable MSA. Brain magnetic resonance imaging markers suggestive of MSA are required for the diagnosis of clinically established MSA. The number of research biomarkers that support all clinical diagnostic categories will likely grow. CONCLUSIONS: This set of MDS MSA diagnostic criteria aims at improving the diagnostic accuracy, particularly in early disease stages. It requires validation in a prospective clinical and a clinicopathological study. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Alpha-Synuclein Oligomers and Neurofilament Light Chain in Spinal Fluid Differentiate Multiple System Atrophy from Lewy Body Synucleinopathies.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) oligomers and neurofilament light chain (NFL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as markers of early multiple system atrophy (MSA) and to contrast findings with Lewy body synucleinopathies. METHODS: In a discovery cohort of well-characterized early MSA patients (n = 24) and matched healthy controls (CON, n = 14), we utilized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure NFL and protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) to detect αSyn oligomers in CSF. We confirmed findings in a separate prospectively enrolled cohort of patients with early MSA (n = 38), Parkinson disease (PD, n = 16), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, n = 13), and CON subjects (n = 15). RESULTS: In the discovery cohort, NFL was markedly elevated in MSA patients, with perfect separation from CON. αSyn-PMCA was nonreactive in all CON, whereas all MSA samples were positive. In the confirmatory cohort, NFL again perfectly separated MSA from CON, and was significantly lower in PD and DLB compared to MSA. PMCA was again nonreactive in all CON, and positive in all but 2 MSA cases. All PD and all but 2 DLB samples were also positive for αSyn aggregates but with markedly different reaction kinetics from MSA; aggregation occurred later, but maximum fluorescence was higher, allowing for perfect separation of reactive samples between MSA and Lewy body synucleinopathies. INTERPRETATION: NFL and αSyn oligomers in CSF faithfully differentiate early MSA not only from CON but also from Lewy body synucleinopathies. The findings support the role of these markers as diagnostic biomarkers, and have important implications for understanding pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the synucleinopathies. ANN NEUROL 2020;88:503-512.

Autonomic dysfunction following COVID-19 infection: an early experience.

PURPOSE: Post-COVID-19 syndrome is a poorly understood aspect of the current pandemic, with clinical features that overlap with symptoms of autonomic/small fiber dysfunction. An early systematic analysis of autonomic dysfunction following COVID-19 is lacking and may provide initial insights into the spectrum of this condition. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of all patients with confirmed history of COVID-19 infection referred for autonomic testing for symptoms concerning for para-/postinfectious autonomic dysfunction at Mayo Clinic Rochester or Jacksonville between March 2020 and January 2021. RESULTS: We identified 27 patients fulfilling the search criteria. Symptoms developed between 0 and 122 days following the acute infection and included lightheadedness (93%), orthostatic headache (22%), syncope (11%), hyperhidrosis (11%), and burning pain (11%). Sudomotor function was abnormal in 36%, cardiovagal function in 27%, and cardiovascular adrenergic function in 7%. The most common clinical scenario was orthostatic symptoms without tachycardia or hypotension (41%); 22% of patients fulfilled the criteria for postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and 11% had borderline findings to support orthostatic intolerance. One patient each was diagnosed with autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy, inappropriate sinus tachycardia, vasodepressor syncope, cough/vasovagal syncope, exacerbation of preexisting orthostatic hypotension, exacerbation of sensory and autonomic neuropathy, and exacerbation of small fiber neuropathy. CONCLUSION: Abnormalities on autonomic testing were seen in the majority of patients but were mild in most cases. The most common finding was orthostatic intolerance, often without objective hemodynamic abnormalities on testing. Unmasking/exacerbation of preexisting conditions was seen. The temporal association between infection and autonomic symptoms implies a causal relationship, which however cannot be proven by this study.

Limitations of the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale as outcome measure for clinical trials and a roadmap for improvement.

PURPOSE: The unified multiple system atrophy (MSA) rating scale (UMSARS) was developed almost 20 years ago as a clinical rating scale to capture multiple aspects of the disease. With its widespread use, the shortcomings of the UMSARS as a clinical outcome assessment (COA) have become increasingly apparent. We here summarize the shortcomings of the scale, confirm some of its limitations with data from the Natural History Study of the Synucleinopathies (NHSS), and suggest a framework to develop and validate an improved COA to be used in future clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs in patients with MSA. METHODS: Expert consensus assessment of the limitations of the UMSARS and recommendations for the development and validation of a novel COA for MSA. We used UMSARS data from the ongoing NHSS (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01799915) to showcase some of these limitations. RESULTS: The UMSARS in general, and specific items in particular, have limitations to detect change resulting in a ceiling effect. Some items have specific limitations including unclear anchoring descriptions, lack of correlation with disease severity, susceptibility to improve with symptomatic therapies (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, constipation, and bladder dysfunction), and redundancy, among others. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the limitations of the UMSARS, developing and validating an improved COA is a priority. The time is right for academic MSA clinicians together with industry, professional societies, and patient advocacy groups to develop and validate a new COA.

Frequency of spinocerebellar ataxia mutations in patients with multiple system atrophy.

PURPOSE: Investigate single nucleotide variants and short tandem repeats in 39 genes related to spinocerebellar ataxia in clinical and pathologically defined cohorts of multiple system atrophy. METHODS: Exome sequencing was conducted in 28 clinical multiple system atrophy patients to identify single nucleotide variants in spinocerebellar ataxia-related genes. Novel variants were validated in two independent disease cohorts: 86 clinically diagnosed multiple system atrophy patients and 166 pathological multiple system atrophy cases. Expanded repeat alleles in spinocerebellar ataxia genes were evaluated in 36 clinically diagnosed multiple system atrophy patients, and CAG/CAA repeats in TATA-Box Binding Protein (TBP, causative of SCA17) were screened in 216 clinical and pathological multiple system atrophy patients and 346 controls. RESULTS: No known pathogenic spinocerebellar ataxia single nucleotide variants or pathogenic range expanded repeat alleles of ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, CACNA1A, AXTN7, ATXN8OS, ATXN10, PPP2R2B, and TBP were detected in any clinical multiple system atrophy patients. However, four novel variants were identified in four spinocerebellar ataxia-related genes across three multiple system atrophy patients. Additionally, four multiple system atrophy patients (1.6%) and one control (0.3%) carried an intermediate length 41 TBP CAG/CAA repeat allele (OR = 4.11, P = 0.21). There was a significant association between the occurrence of a repeat length of longer alleles (> 38 repeats) and an increased risk of multiple system atrophy (OR = 1.64, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Occurrence of TBP CAG/CAA repeat length of longer alleles (> 38 repeats) is significantly associated with increased multiple system atrophy risk. This discovery warrants further investigation and supports a possible genetic overlap of multiple system atrophy with SCA17.

Lower Vitamin B12 Level at Multiple System Atrophy Diagnosis Is Associated With Shorter Survival.

BACKGROUND: Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disorder from α-synuclein aggregation. in vitro studies suggest vitamin B12 may interrupt α-synuclein-mediated neurodegeneration. The objective of this study was to determine whether serum vitamin B12 level at MSA diagnosis is associated with survival. METHODS: One hundred eighty-two MSA patients evaluated at Mayo Clinic with vitamin B12 testing were studied. We determined the risk of death in relationship to serum vitamin B12 levels at MSA diagnosis, adjusting for predictors of poor survival. RESULTS: Predictors of shorter survival included vitamin B12 < 367 ng/L (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3-2.7), falls within 3 years of MSA diagnosis (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), bladder symptoms (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.6), urinary catheter requirement (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0-2.8), male sex (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0-2.0), and MSA-P subtype (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.0). CONCLUSIONS: Low vitamin B12 levels are associated with shorter survival in MSA. Additional studies to explore this observation and assess the potential role of vitamin B12 as a modifiable survival factor are needed. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

The Orthostatic Discriminant and Severity Scale (ODSS): an assessment of orthostatic intolerance.

PURPOSE: To assess the ability of the Orthostatic Discriminant and Severity Scale (ODSS) to distinguish symptoms of orthostatic intolerance from non-orthostatic symptoms. METHODS: Clinical evaluations and questionnaire responses were collected in 73 healthy controls and 132 patients referred to the Autonomic Disorders Clinic from September 1, 2016, through April 30, 2018, for queries regarding autonomic dysfunction. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to interpret sensitivity and specificity and to determine cutoff scores for symptom assessment. Inter-item reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. To calculate positive and negative predictive powers, patient data were collected in a single-blinded fashion where the researcher collecting questionnaire data was blinded to the clinical evaluation and diagnosis. Predictive powers were calculated using a chi-squared cross-tabulation. RESULTS: The orthostatic and non-orthostatic symptoms scores produced ROC curves with an area under the curve of 0.89 and 0.79, respectively. The orthostatic scores yielded a positive and negative predictive power value of 73% and 81%, respectively. Combined, the ODSS identified patients with and without orthostatic symptoms with an overall accuracy of 76%. The reliability of the ODSS was significant, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88, and all dichotomous items were deemed worthy of retention following an inter-item reliability assessment. CONCLUSIONS: The ODSS demonstrated a strong ability to distinguish patients with and without orthostatic intolerance and demonstrated sensitivity and specificity equivalent to that of other standardized measures. Overall, the ODSS produces symptom scores that are both reliable and useful for both research and clinical practice.

Autonomic dysfunction and phenoconversion in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder.

BACKGROUND: REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is a common finding among patients with synucleinopathies. We aimed to determine the degree of autonomic dysfunction in patients presenting with idiopathic RBD (iRBD), and the predictive value of autonomic dysfunction for phenoconversion to a defined neurodegenerative disease. METHODS: We searched our electronic medical record for patients diagnosed with iRBD who also underwent standardized autonomic function testing within 6 months of iRBD diagnosis, and who had clinical follow-up of at least 3 years following iRBD diagnosis. The composite autonomic severity score (CASS) was derived and compared between phenoconverters and non-converters using chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: We identified 18 patients who fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. Average age at autonomic testing was 67 ± 6.6 years. Twelve (67%) patients phenoconverted during the follow-up period; six developed Parkinson's disease (PD), and the other six, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Fifteen (83%) patients had at least mild autonomic dysfunction. There were no significant differences between overall converters and non-converters in total CASS or CASS subscores. However, iRBD patients who developed DLB had significantly higher total and cardiovagal CASS scores compared with those who developed PD (p < 0.05), and a trend for higher adrenergic CASS scores compared to those who developed PD and those who did not phenoconvert. DISCUSSION: Autonomic dysfunction was seen in 83% of iRBD patients, and more severe baseline cardiovagal autonomic dysfunction in iRBD was associated with phenoconversion to DLB but not PD. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the value of autonomic testing for predicting phenoconversion and disease phenotype in iRBD.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and autonomic disorders: a position statement from the American Autonomic Society.

INTRODUCTION: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been anecdotally connected to the development of dysautonomia, chronic fatigue, complex regional pain syndrome and postural tachycardia syndrome. OBJECTIVES: To critically evaluate a potential connection between HPV vaccination and the above-noted conditions. METHODS: We reviewed the literature containing the biology of the virus, pathophysiology of infection, epidemiology of associated cancers, indications of HPV vaccination, safety surveillance data and published reports linking HPV vaccination to autonomic disorders. RESULTS: At this time, the American Autonomic Society finds that there are no data to support a causal relationship between HPV vaccination and CRPS, chronic fatigue, and postural tachycardia syndrome to other forms of dysautonomia. CONCLUSION: Certain conditions are prevalent in the same populations that are vaccinated with the HPV vaccine (peri-pubertal males and females). This association, however, is an insufficient proof of causality.

Orthostatic heart rate changes in patients with autonomic failure caused by neurodegenerative synucleinopathies.

OBJECTIVE: Blunted tachycardia during hypotension is a characteristic feature of patients with autonomic failure, but the range has not been defined. This study reports the range of orthostatic heart rate (HR) changes in patients with autonomic failure caused by neurodegenerative synucleinopathies. METHODS: Patients evaluated at sites of the U.S. Autonomic Consortium (NCT01799915) underwent standardized autonomic function tests and full neurological evaluation. RESULTS: We identified 402 patients with orthostatic hypotension (OH) who had normal sinus rhythm. Of these, 378 had impaired sympathetic activation (ie, neurogenic OH) and based on their neurological examination were diagnosed with Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, pure autonomic failure, or multiple system atrophy. The remaining 24 patients had preserved sympathetic activation and their OH was classified as nonneurogenic, due to volume depletion, anemia, or polypharmacy. Patients with neurogenic OH had twice the fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP; -44 ± 25 vs -21 ± 14 mmHg [mean ± standard deviation], p < 0.0001) but only one-third of the increase in HR of those with nonneurogenic OH (8 ± 8 vs 25 ± 11 beats per minute [bpm], p < 0.0001). A ΔHR/ΔSBP ratio of 0.492 bpm/mmHg had excellent sensitivity (91.3%) and specificity (88.4%) to distinguish between patients with neurogenic from nonneurogenic OH (area under the curve = 0.96, p < 0.0001). Within patients with neurogenic OH, HR increased more in those with multiple system atrophy (p = 0.0003), but there was considerable overlap with patients with Lewy body disorders. INTERPRETATION: A blunted HR increase during hypotension suggests a neurogenic cause. A ΔHR/ΔSBP ratio < 0.5 bpm/mmHg is diagnostic of neurogenic OH. Ann Neurol 2018;83:522-531.

Initial validation of symptom scores derived from the orthostatic discriminant and severity scale.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a scale to quantify and discriminate orthostatic from non-orthostatic symptoms. In the current study, we present validation and reliability of orthostatic and non-orthostatic symptom scores taken from the orthostatic discriminate and severity scale (ODSS). METHODS: Validity and reliability were assessed in participants with and without orthostatic intolerance. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating symptoms scores with previously validated tools [autonomic symptom profile (ASP) and the orthostatic hypotension questionnaire (OHQ)]. Clinical validity was assessed by correlating scores against standardized autonomic testing. Test-retest reliability was calculated using an intra-class correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Convergent validity: orthostatic (OS) and non-orthostatic (NS) symptom scores from 77 controls and 67 patients with orthostatic intolerance were highly correlated with both the orthostatic intolerance index of the ASP (OS: r = 0.903; NS: r = 0.651; p < 0.001) and the composite score of the OHQ: (OS: r = 0.800; NS: r = 0.574; p < 0.001). Clinical validity: symptom scores were significantly correlated with the total composite autonomic severity score (OS: r = 0.458; NS: r = 0.315; p < 0.001), and the systolic blood pressure change during head-up tilt (OS: r = - 0.445; NS: r = - 0.354; p < 0.001). In addition, patients with orthostatic intolerance had significantly higher symptom scores compared to controls (OS: 66.5 ± 18.1 vs. 17.4 ± 12.9; NS: 19.9 ± 11.3 vs. 10.2 ± 6.8; p < 0.001, respectively). Test-retest reliability: Both orthostatic and non-orthostatic symptom scores were highly reliable (OS: r = 0.956 and NS: r = 0.574, respectively; p < 0.001) with an internal consistency of 0.978 and 0.729, respectively. INTERPRETATION: Our initial results demonstrate that the ODSS is capable of producing valid and reliable orthostatic and non-orthostatic symptom scores. Further studies are ongoing to test sensitivity, specificity and symptom severity.

Natural history of pure autonomic failure: A United States prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To define the clinical features and biomarkers that predict which patients with pure autonomic failure will develop Parkinson disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or multiple system atrophy. METHODS: One hundred patients who presented with pure autonomic failure were recruited at 5 medical centers in the United States. Seventy-four patients agreed to be followed prospectively. Patients underwent clinical evaluations including neurological rating scales, sleep questionnaires, smell test, and sympathetic and parasympathetic cardiovascular autonomic function tests. RESULTS: At enrollment, patients were 68 ± 12 years old (median ± interquartile range) and had had autonomic failure for 5 ± 7 years. Within 4 years of follow-up, 25 of 74 subjects (34%) developed dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 13), Parkinson disease (n = 6), or multiple system atrophy (n = 6). The presence of probable rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder was strongly associated with the development of a manifest central nervous system (CNS) synucleinopathy (odds ratio = 7.1). Patients who phenoconverted to multiple system atrophy had younger age at onset of autonomic failure, severe bladder/bowel dysfunction, preserved olfaction, and a cardiac chronotropic response upon tilt > 10 beats per minute. Those who phenoconverted to Parkinson disease or dementia with Lewy bodies had decreased olfaction, a lesser chronotropic response to tilt, and a longer duration of illness. The small group of patients retaining the pure autonomic failure phenotype had very low plasma norepinephrine levels, slow resting heart rate, no REM sleep behavior disorder, and preserved smell. INTERPRETATION: Patients presenting with pure autonomic failure are at high risk of phenoconverting to a manifest CNS synucleinopathy. Specific clinical features predict future diagnosis. Ann Neurol 2017;81:287-297.

Multiple system atrophy and apolipoprotein E.

BACKGROUND: Dysregulation of the specialized lipid metabolism involved in myelin synthesis and maintenance by oligodendrocytes has been associated with the unique neuropathology of MSA. We hypothesized that apolipoprotein E, which is associated with neurodegeneration, may also play a role in the pathogenesis of MSA. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated genetic associations of Apolipoprotein E alleles with risk of MSA and α-synuclein pathology, and also examined whether apolipoprotein E isoforms differentially affect α-synuclein uptake in a oligodendrocyte cell. METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight pathologically confirmed MSA patients, 89 clinically diagnosed MSA patients, and 1,277 control subjects were genotyped for Apolipoprotein E. Human oligodendrocyte cell lines were incubated with α-synuclein and recombinant human apolipoprotein E, with internalized α-synuclein imaged by confocal microscopy and cells analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: No significant association with risk of MSA or was observed for either Apolipoprotein E ɛ2 or ɛ4. α-Synuclein burden was also not associated with Apolipoprotein E alleles in the pathologically confirmed patients. Interestingly, in our cell assays, apolipoprotein E ɛ4 significantly reduced α-synuclein uptake in the oligodendrocytic cell line. CONCLUSIONS: Despite differential effects of apolipoprotein E isoforms on α-synuclein uptake in a human oligodendrocytic cell, we did not observe a significant association at the Apolipoprotein E locus with risk of MSA or α-synuclein pathology. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Intraoperative Molecular Imaging Combined With Positron Emission Tomography Improves Surgical Management of Peripheral Malignant Pulmonary Nodules.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if intraoperative molecular imaging (IMI) can improve detection of malignant pulmonary nodules. BACKGROUND: 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) is commonly utilized in preoperative assessment of patients with solid malignancies; however, false negatives and false positives remain major limitations. Using patients with pulmonary nodules as a study model, we hypothesized that IMI with a folate receptor targeted near-infrared contrast agent (OTL38) can improve malignant pulmonary nodule identification when combined with PET. METHODS: Fifty patients with pulmonary nodules with imaging features suspicious for malignancy underwent preoperative PET. Patients then received OTL38 before pulmonary resection. During resection, IMI was utilized to evaluate known pulmonary nodules and identify synchronous lesions. Tumor size, PET standardized uptake value, and IMI tumor-to-background ratios were compared for known and synchronous nodules via paired and unpaired t tests, when appropriate. Test characteristics of PET and IMI with OTL38 were compared. RESULTS: IMI identified 56 of 59 (94.9%) malignant pulmonary nodules identified by preoperative imaging. IMI located an additional 9 malignant lesions not identified preoperatively. Nodules only detected by IMI were smaller than nodules detected preoperatively (0.5 vs 2.4 cm; P < 0.01), but displayed similar fluorescence (tumor-to-background ratio 3.3 and 3.1; P = 0.50). Sensitivity of IMI and PET were 95.6% and 73.5% (P = 0.001), respectively; and positive predictive values were 94.2% and 89.3%, respectively (P > 0.05). Additionally, utilization of IMI clinically upstaged 6 (12%) subjects and improved management of 15 (30%) subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that combining IMI with PET may provide superior oncologic outcomes for patients with resectable lung cancer.